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State Budget Action

Update Mar-12-2012

CRISIS OF CAREGIVERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES & SENIORS FOCUS OF MARCH 13TH 1:30 PM ASSEMBLY AGING & LONG TERM CARE AND ASSEMBLY HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE INFO HEARING

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 03/12/2012 02:25 PM] - The crisis of caregiving – both paid and unpaid – impacting people with disabilities and seniors and their families is the focus of a joint informational hearing by the Assembly Aging and Long Term Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (Democrat – Davis, 8th Assembly District) and the Assembly Human Services Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Jim Beall, Jr. (Democrat – San Jose, 24th Assembly District), March 13th, Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 PM, at the State Capitol in Room 126. The hearing is scheduled to video streamed live on the CalChannel website at www.calchannel.com . The hearing should also be carried live on CalChannel's cable channel – check your local cable listings or go to the CalChannel website page at: http://www.calchannel.com/channel/carriage/ to find your city and the cable channel.

The informational hearing by the two policy committees that – along with Assembly Health Committee and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services – deal with long term services and supports – including those for children and adults with disabilities (including developmental, autism spectrum and other disorders), mental health needs, the blind, seniors and their families, providers including In-Home Supportive Services, supported living services, independent living services, and home health agencies and others.

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES ANNOUNCES STAKEHOLDER SIX WORK GROUP MEETING DATES ON STATE BUDGET "TRIGGER CUTS"

First Work Group to Meet February 3rd in Los Angeles - Stakeholder Work Groups Will Provide Input to Brown Administration on Ways to Achieve $200 Million In State General Fund Spending Reductions

First Workgroup Meeting Set for LA On February 3rd, 2012
The Department of Developmental Services is requiesting certain statewide provider and various advocacy organizations and groups to either participate by appointing representatives to some or all of the workgroups that will meet on the following dates:

Feb 03 (Friday) - Los Angeles (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)

Feb 07 (Tuesday) - Sacramento (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)

Feb 16 (Thursday) - San Diego (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)

Feb 17 (Friday) - Riverside (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)

Feb 24 (Friday) - Oakland (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)

Mar 01 (Thursday) - Fresno (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)

Specific information regarding locations will be announced soon from the Department of Developmental Services.

DDS's stakeholder process to find $174 Million in General Fund Savings has resulted in proposals from DDS that could limit services you use. Please come or call-in to one of three public forums about these cuts and offer testimony about how the proposed budget cuts will affect you, your family and those around you.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 03/10/2011 – 08:30 AM (Pacific Time) – Budget legislative language – called "budget trailer bill" language (because the bills that make necessary changes in state law to implement changes in the State budget follow the main budget bill), soon to be released calls for the $174 million cut in State general fund spending for regional center community-based services to be achieved by "best practices" instead of language that focused on a proposal for statewide standards to limit or reduce regional center services – referred to as "statewide standards for the purchase of services". The Budget Conference Committee approved that action last week when it completed its work, though details on what the various budget related language had not been finalized and or available yet.

As previously reported yesterday, while both the Assembly and Senate will meet today, no vote on the budget is scheduled, at the request of Governor Brown. The Governor said yesterday he wanted a delay because of progress in talks with certain legislative Republicans on a possible budget deal.

The Brown Administration, as represented by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), which does not need legislative approval to develop and submit proposals to the Legislature, can still proceed to develop and propose statewide standards for purchase of services that would achieve cuts in State general fund spending of at least $174 million.

The Brown Administration wanted the Legislature to direct the Department of Developmental Services to develop and submit a statewide standards proposal – and the change in the budget legislative language simply means that the targeted $174 million reduction could be achieved in a variety of ways.

At this point, as the Budget Conference Committee continues its work, the overall cut to the community has been reduced ($150 million General Fund/$270 million Total Funds).

What is troubling however is that even though the exposure has been reduced, the likelihood going forward is that these cuts could still fall unfairly and inequitably on the direct services that people with disabilities rely on the live their lives in the community.

To date, the community has suffered twice the cut (as a percentage) of that which has been visited on developmental centers, regional center operations and the DDS Headquarters. We all understand the seriousness of the budget crisis, and we are grateful that both Houses of the Legislature have reduced our exposure. But they should take the next step now and allocate the remaining cuts in a fairer and more equitable fashion. Of course the dollar impact will be greater in purchase of service – that is where the bulk of the money is spent. But as a percentage, the distribution of the cuts should be equalized.

That means of the next cuts, we should be urging the Legislature to take a far smaller percentage bite from services and allocate the pain to the sectors of the system who, while not totally spared in the past, have nonetheless been protected.

Please continue to use the attached information below in the Family Tool Kit to contact your legislators to advocate for your friends and loved ones. If you would like to continue receiving updates on the developments with the State budget please go to the home page of our website and subscribe to our e-newsletter. In addition, the following links may be useful to you as we move forward:

Dear Advocates of People with Developmental Disabilities,

By now you are aware of the State Budget Crisis. The Developmental Disability System is marked in Governor Brown's Budget to receive a cut of $750 million. The details of the proposed cuts are not available yet to service providers like HOPE Services, but they have the potential of being up to a 25% cut in the funds available for delivery of services. These proposed cuts would be devastating to the current system of delivery of services. We continue to monitor the situation and advocate for reduction in cuts where we can.

As we don't know the specifics we can only respond with generalities, but is very important that you, and people close to you, let your legislators know the importance and impact of the services you currently receive. There is no doubt that they are in some jeopardy. The enormity of the proposed cuts will leave no program or service unaffected.

To that end, please use the attached information below in the Family Tool Kit to contact your legislators to advocate for your friends and loved ones. If you would like to continue receiving updates on the developments with the State budget please go to the home page of our website and subscribe to our e-newsletter. In addition, the following links may be useful to you as we move forward: